EVERTON have expressed an interest in signing Alan Smith – but the Newcastle United utility man wants to stay at St James’s Park and help the club out of the Championship.
Virtually the entire United squad is up for sale after relegation and the club have employed agency First Artist to try to shift most of their big earners.
And while the chances of selling some of United’s flops without suffering huge losses seem slim, Smith is one of the players already attracting interest from Premier League clubs, including the Toffees. Despite a desperate couple of seasons since joining United, Smith’s reputation in the top flight does not appear to have been unduly dented.
Although he managed just six league appearances during an injury-ravaged season, Smith is regarded within the game as a model professional and an asset in the dressing room.
Everton are at the head of the chasing pack but Stoke City are also interested in the former Manchester United man, and Blackburn have been credited with an interest. The player was offered to Wolves before the end of the season, but his wage demands appear to preclude a move to Molineux. Despite the interest Smith, currently away on holiday, would prefer to stay at St James’s Park and help Newcastle to battle their way back into the top flight.
The 28-year-old is aware that his move from Manchester United has not worked out so far and is loathe to leave the club while things are at such a low ebb.
Although as confused as the rest of the squad at the delay in appointing Alan Shearer, he would prefer to stay at United and have a sustained run in his preferred position up front.
But, unless a new owner for the club is found quickly, the number crunchers at St James’s Park are unlikely to agree. On around £60,000 a week, Newcastle simply can not sustain those wages while playing Championship football.
A source close to Smith said: “If Newcastle want to sell him, then it is out of Alan’s hands. But he would like to stay at Newcastle and help the club get out of the Championship.
“He played only a handful of games last season and he wants to put that right. Newcastle might be a Championship club but they are a big club and there aren’t many outside the top four with the kind of support and potential they have.”
That potential requires harnessing, however, and with the club’s future ownership and management both uncertain there are mounting fears of a haemorrhaging of support at St James’s Park. The
club has begun posting out season ticket renewal forms but with Alan Shearer still waiting to hear from anyone senior connected with United – and growing increasingly exasperated with the situation – a fog of uncertainty still surrounds the club.
Season ticket prices have been cut by 9% across the board and, speaking to the club’s website, United’s managing director Drek Llambias said he sympathised with the plight of ordinary fans.
“At a time when money is tight for supporters, football clubs have to recognise the sacrifices people make to continue following their team and offer any assistance they can in making games affordable to watch,” he said. “We have decided to reduce the majority of prices back to 2007-08 levels to help fans because we appreciate the big commitment they make in buying their season tickets every year.”
More certain is Shearer’s desire to take control of the club, which remains despite being made to wait for the green light.
A contingency plan involving Chris Hughton taking up the managerial reins at St James’s Park once again is possible as he is the only senior contracted coach and therefore the club’s only viable ‘Plan B’.
But it is difficult to see any United fans being enthused by that prospect, especially given that Hughton himself was a reluctant occupier of the managerial hot seat last season.